Mexican President Enrique Peña
Nieto stated that the Mexican state is striving to ensure that the agencies responsible for security at all levels are better
equipped and coordinated.

As he delivered security
vehicles and vouchers for street lamps in over 90 municipalities in the State of Mexico, the president stressed that with
regard to security, the government is not working “on its own or in isolation,” but on the contrary, “We
are convinced that the best way to achieve greater security is by working as a team.”

“We are working on a common front, linking the government
to the governments of the states and with the municipalities, in what is a common task for all levels of government: providing
security for the population,” he said.

He noted that the delivery
of 740 vehicles for State of Mexico agencies, and street lighting for most of the municipalities in this state, are an example
of the real, effective coordination between the levels of government.

President Peña Nieto said that this coordination, which is one of the pillars
of the Security Strategy, has enabled us to, “Join forces, personnel and strategy to combat organized crime together,”
which has yielded “better safety rates.”

“Even
the most skeptical and critical members of society admit that there are now better security rates across the country, the
rate of intentional homicides, extortions and robberies has decreased, while kidnapping rates have fallen in relation to what
we had two years ago,” he added.

He explained that another axis of the Security Strategy is crime prevention, through the restoration
of the social fabric. He explained that the street lighting delivered, “Will make it possible to have better lit streets
and prevent crimes from being committed there, or at least make it harder to commit crimes due to improved lighting and the
presence of security personnel.”

A third focus of the strategy
is to strengthen public safety agencies. “The purchase of these patrol cars and of these vehicles has largely been through
the will and investment of the government of the State of Mexico, and support from the federal government.”

He said that, “We are still
not satisfied, we have much to do, but it is encouraging that the strategy of prevention, coordination, and strengthening
security institutions is paying off.”

The president recalled that
the government has submitted a bill, currently under debate in Congress, with one element seeking to “Change the model
we had of over 1,800 police forces across the country, to 32 solid, well-trained police forces with the same training and
equipment, so that they can cope with organized crime more effectively.”

He added that all these elements have meant that 90 leaders
of criminal organizations, “Have now been arrested and are being tried; others have been killed in clashes with police,
but most are behind bars.” He mentioned Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, and Servando Gómez, alias
“La Tuta.”

This means, he continued,
“That five out of six of these dangerous [criminals] are now being tried. This is no coincidence; it is because there
have been coordination, strategy, and the use of intelligence and technological capabilities to investigate and locate these
criminals.”

“The evidence is there, but it is also true that there is a firm, continuing commitment to continue advancing
security for all of Mexican society.”

National Security Commissioner
Monte Alejandro Rubido stressed that, “Security is the original function of the state, and therefore essential for the
development and well-being of society. This lofty responsibility has been a key focus since the first day of the administration
of President Enrique Peña Nieto, who, with a state vision, is committed to decreasing crime rates to restore calm to
citizens.”

He said that to this end, as instructed by the president, “We are working in coordination with the states on security
issues.” He explained that members of the Security Cabinet are visiting the five regions in which Mexican territory
has been divided to meet local cabinets, gauge progress, evaluate results, and jointly propose measures to strengthen the
various actions undertaken.

He explained that, “The
coordinated action between the authorities and institutions has conclusively proved to be the best route for delivering good
results to citizens,” and emphasized that, “As a result of these strategies, there have been significant advances
in security, which has reduced crime rates and destabilized the leaders of major criminal groups.”

He said that, “The circumstances
in our country may vary, but not the right of Mexicans to live in peace, meaning that we are firmly committed to achieving
this. He said that, “It is, in short, a joint effort to preserve order and protect legality where it is most required.”

The Governor of the State of Mexico, Eruviel Ávila, said that since the start
of his administration, “President Peña Nieto made it clear that living in a Mexico at peace was and is the goal,
and today, more than two years later, the results can be felt and experienced on a daily basis in our country and also here
in the State of Mexico.”

He said that thanks to the region-based security strategy implemented during this period, he meets with the federal
authorities who support local areas on a monthly basis. He said that although they have achieved, “Results that are
very important and fill us with pride and satisfaction,” he made a commitment to the president to continue working together
with the federal forces to make them more accountable to the population.

By sharing some of the results in this area, he noted that according to the National System of Public Safety, since
March 2014 the state has risen seven positions and is now ranked 15th nationwide.

He said today the president delivered 743 units for use by
the state police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Municipal Police and Probosque, involving an investment of $287
million pesos, combining federal, state and local resources: “These are funds obtained from society, which we efficiently
use and administer to support all of you.”

As
part of a comprehensive safety plan, he added, today we have also provided “54,000 street lights for the benefit of
94 municipalities in our state, with municipal, state and federal funds, involving an investment of over $300 million pesos.”

Ana Rosa Flores Vega, a policewoman
from the group affiliated to the Secretariat of Civic Security of the State of Mexico, said on behalf of her police colleagues
that in order to advance and grow economically, politically and socially, the inhabitants of the State of Mexico require a
secure environment that will enable them to work in peace, tranquility and certainty.

Doing so, she explained, involves protecting 13 percent of the national population and monitoring
21,500 square kilometers of territory; covering over 60 industrial parks; over 360,000 companies; over 600 bank branches;
and over 20,000 schools, with an estimated enrolment of four million students, which, “Would be impossible without the
committed participation of all the security and law enforcement bodies at the three levels of government, between which there
is now close cooperation, communication and coordination.”

——————————

Presidency of the Republic, Mar. 31,
2015, Mexico, DF; translation by Presidency of the Republic (edited)

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